Side size marker for a garment hanger

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a garment hanger and size marker combination, which comprises a garment hanger having at least one marker mounting means located at a juncture between a hanger body and a hook portion, and a side size marker mounted on said means in a self-locking manner. The marker mounting means includes a web formed between the hanger body and the hook portion, a projecting edge which extends slopingly between the hanger body and the hook portion and has a notch, and a stop formed on each of two opposite sides of the web. The size marker includes a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart side walls, a top wall connecting the pair of side walls to define a channel for receiving the web, and a pair of the opposite flanges structured and arranged to engage the stops on the web to secure the size marker to the garment hanger.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of garment hangers and,more particularly, to a garment hanger and size marker combination thatdisplays information about the size of the garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the area of retail garment sales, a specified hanger program (alsoreferred to as GOH (garment on hanger)) is becoming more popular. TheGOH program provides the retailers with garments which have been hung onthe hangers and ready for distribution and display at stores, thusoffering the advantages of transport, distribution and operationalefficiencies as well as reduced cost. In the GOH program, there is aneed to have information regarding the garments shown on the hangers.

Size markers or sizers are provided on garment hangers to displayinginformation about the garment including the size. There are basicallythree types of size markers which attach to the hangers, one beingfitted atop the hook of a hanger, a second which is side mounted and athird having a through cavity that allows the hook of a hanger to passtherethrough.

While a variety of size markers are known in the art, for example, inU.S. Pat. No. 5,096,101, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2006/0006204, and European Patent Application Publication No. 1338226,none are available which provide the user with the ease and simplicityof manipulation of size marker, such as is the subject of the presentinvention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,101 discloses a garment hanger having a tab holderformed at a hanger body and an information tab coupled to said tabholder. However, the information tab requires a substantial amount ofeffort to secure it with the hanger and prevents removal of the tab fromthe hanger after being secured thereon.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0006204 illustrates crownsizers which are mounted over the hook of a hanger and positionedcoaxially about a post extending from the hanger body, however, are notlaterally engaged with the hook of the hanger.

European Patent Application Publication No. 1338226 discloses a sizemarker provided with a recess adapted for containing, either partly ortotally, the post protruding from the plastic body of a hanger. The sizemarker must be held around and abut against the hook of a hanger. It isrocking after being secured on the hanger.

These size markers fulfill their respective, particular objectives andrequirements, but these markers and the known products on the marketexhibit disadvantages such as deformation of the size marker after useover a period of time, difficulty in advancement and removal of the sizemarker after being locked, lack of feasibility of recycling or reuse ofthe size marker. In addition, they usually horizontally protrude beyondthe hanger such that the fabric of smoothly textured garments such assilk, rayon, etc., when hung on the hanger, could be damaged duringshipment or storage in a stacking manner.

Consequently, there would be greatly advantageous to address theproblems outlined above by providing a garment hanger and size markercombination that

-   -   possesses a rigid and simple design such that the size marker is        easily removed from and returned to its working position while        satisfying the childproof requirement,    -   is capable of surely and safely holding smoothly textured        garments such as silk, rayon, etc, during shipment or storage in        a stacking manner,    -   allows recycling and reprocessing of the size marker, and    -   is inexpensive to manufacture, susceptible of widespread use and        provides an aesthetic advantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed to fulfill the needs notedabove and therefore has a principle object of the provision of a garmenthanger and size marker combination, comprising:

a garment hanger having a hanger body, a hook portion and at least onemarker mounting means located at a juncture between the hanger body andthe hook portion, said marker mounting means including a web formedbetween the hanger body and the hook portion, a projecting edge whichextends slopingly between the hanger body and the hook portion and has anotch, and a stop formed on each of two opposite sides of the web; and

a size marker mounted on the web via the edge in a self-locking manner,including a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart side walls, atop wall connecting the pair of side walls to define a channel forreceiving the web, and a pair of opposite flanges which are structuredon the side walls and arranged to engage the stops on the web to securethe size marker to the garment hanger.

Preferably, the web is substantially triangle shaped and the projectingedge is positioned along the hypotenuse of the web and unitarily formedwith the web.

The notch arranged on the projecting edge is of a length such that thesize marker is laterally advanced to the marker mounting means via thenotch.

The stop provided on the web preferably has a sloping surface forfacilitating advancement of the size marker to the marker mountingmeans.

Referring to the size marker, its side walls each preferably terminatesby the flange that extends inwardly and upwardly. With such a flangedesign and the transversely projecting edge, the size marker may befirmly positioned on the marker mounting means.

In according to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the markermounting means is shaped to substantially completely be received in thechannel defined by the side walls and the top wall of the size markerwith the upper portion of the projecting edge being abutting against aninner face of the top wall of the size maker.

The garment hanger used in the present invention is advantageously of atype having a plastic post integral with the hanger body and a hook madeof metal and received in the post.

To have a better understanding of the invention reference is made to thefollowing detailed description of the invention and embodiments thereofin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a garment hanger attached with asize marker constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the garment hanger and the size marker ofFIG. 1 showing the size marker before attachment to the garment hanger.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a marker mounting means of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the marker mounting means of FIG. 2 whenviewing from the rear side of the mounting means.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the marker mountingmeans of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the mounting means of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view looking in the direction of arrows B-B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a size marker of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the size marker of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the hanger with the size marker in place.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line of A-A of FIG. 10.

In the various figures of the drawings, like reference numbers are usedto designate like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferredembodiment, the device may be produced in many different configurations,forms and materials.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 provides a plastic molded garmenthanger 1 having a hanger body 2 integral with a plastic post 4, and ahook portion 3 made of metal 3 and received in the post. The garmenthanger 2 has a marker mounting means 5 at the junction between the post4 and the hanger body 2 for engagement with a side size marker 11 inself-locking relation. The marker mounting means 5 is typically formedof a molded plastic material and is molded unitarily with the garmenthanger.

FIG. 2 illustrates the marker mounting means 5 and the size marker 11before insertion on the marker mounting means.

FIGS. 3-7 collectively illustrate views of the marker mounting means 5.The size marker 11 is further discussed below with reference to FIGS.8-9. FIGS. 3-4 are perspective front and rear views of the markermounting means 5, respectively. This marker mounting means includes aweb 6 of substantially triangular configuration, a stop 9 arranged oneach side of the web 6 and a transversely projecting edge 7 extendingbetween the post 4 and the hanger body 2.

The profile shape of the web 6 is matched to a predetermined size markerthat is to be placed on the marker mounting means.

The stop 9 is of substantially rectangular in cross-section and has asloping surface 10 to ease the size marker 11 into place, as clearlyshown in FIGS. 4 and 6-7. When the size marker 11 is laterally slid ontothe web 6, the sloping surface 10 provides easily assembly of the sizemarker 11 and the hanger. The stop 9 is located so that the size marker11 fits onto and locks in the marker mounting means 5. In thisembodiment, the stop 9 has a thin end extending proximal to the notch 8and a thick end having thickness matching the flange 15 so that theirfirmly interlocking action is obtained.

In this embodiment of the invention, the projecting edge 7 is positionedalong the hypotenuse of the web 6 and transversely projects from the web6 in opposite directions. There is a notch 8 in the intermediate portionof the edge 7, through which the size marker 11 is laterally advancedonto the marker mounting means 5. The edge 7 is of a width mating withthe spacing between the inner surfaces of side walls 12 of the sizemarker 11, further ensuring the interlocking nature of the markermounting means 5 into the size maker 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-9, there is illustrated the size marker 11 tobe attached to the marker mounting means 5. The size marker 11 is madeof plastic and dimensioned to fit over and engage the marker mountingmeans of the hanger.

In this embodiment, the size marker 11 takes a profile shape which issubstantially triangular. The size marker 11 has a pair of substantiallytriangular parallel side walls 12, a rectangular top wall 13 connectingthe side walls 12 to define a channel 14 for receiving the markermounting means 5.

Each side wall 12 has at its free end a flange 15 integrally formed withand flexing inwardly and upwardly from the free end. The flange 15 isresilient and dimensioned to catch the stop 9 on the web 6 therebylocking the size marker 11 in place on the marker mounting means 5,while maintaining the child-proof standards. With this locking actionand the abutment of the projecting edge 7 against the inner face of thetop wall 13, the size marker 11 substantially eliminates the possibilityof being removed from the garment hanger.

The side wall 12 provides a visible surface which is easily viewablecarrying but not limited to the printed size of the garment on thehanger 1. The color of the size marker itself may also provideindicative purpose.

Preferably, the marker mounting means 5 is shaped to substantiallycompletely be received within the channel defined by the side walls 12and the top wall 13 of the size marker 11. When the size marker 11 isheld in place on the marker mounting means, the upper portion of theprojecting edge 7 is abutting against an inner face of the top wall ofthe size maker for the purpose of enhancing the attachment of the sizemarker 11.

In order to attach the size marker 11 onto the marker mounting means 5in place, the size marker 11 is forced manually to advance into themarker mounting means 5 through the notch 8 in the direction as shown inFIG. 2. To attain this, the flanges 15 of the size marker 11 first areimpressed to slightly splay outwardly via contact with the thin ends ofthe stops 8 structured on the web 6. Then, a force is applied to thesize marker 11 so that the flanges 15 slide along the sloping surfaces10 of the stops. With advancement of the size marker 11, the flanges 15and the side walls 12 gradually expand outwardly until the flanges 15snap or lock onto the stops 9 for releasably secure attachment. In thisway, the marker mounting means 5 is fully inserted into the channel 14of the size marker 11, as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 illustrates the locking operation of the size marker 11. Theengagement of the flanges 15 with the stops 9 ensures the close fittingnature of the size marker 11 and the marker mounting means 11. There isno movement permitted between the size maker 11 and the marker mountingmeans 11 once it is snapped into place onto the marker mounting means,as a result, the size marker 11 is not easily removable from the markermounting means.

In order to remove the size marker 11, no special tool or means isrequired for the invention. The size marker 11 may be grasped by handfor applying an outward and upward force to the size marker 11 so thatthe flanges 15 and the side walls 12 expand outwardly to offset thestops 9 thereby enabling disengagement of the flanges 15 from the lockedpositions.

It should be appreciated that two size markers may also be arrangedoppositely at the junctions of the hanger body and the hook portions ofthe garment hanger.

The invention thus provides a garment hanger and size marker combinationwith a simple design which is inexpensive to produce and allowsrecycling/reuse of the size markers. Because of the simple design oflocking members, manipulation of removal or attachment of the sizemarker can occur without substantial amount of effort, for examplethrough the less finger pressure exerted against the size marker. Inaddition, the size marker in accordance with the invention, once it issnapped in place, does not horizontally substantially protrude beyondthe hook portion of the hanger, allowing the garment hangers havinggarments suspended therefrom to flat stack while substantially bring nodamage to smoothly textured garments such as silk, rayon, etc. duringshipment and storage.

The simple construction of the invention also offers the adaptability ofthe size marker and the marker mounting means to mass-manufacture usingmolding with uncomplicated molds, the combination of the invention thusbeing manufactured at very low cost which should contribute to itspopularity and usefulness. The bulk of material used in the inventioncompared to the products in existence is reduced. In addition to costsavings, assembling and disassembling the size may be moreuser-friendly.

While the embodiment described herein are intended as an exemplarygarment hanger and size marker combination, it will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited tothe embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision manyother possible variations within the scope of the present invention.

1. A garment hanger and size marker combination, comprising: a garmenthanger having a hanger body, a hook portion and at least one markermounting means located at a juncture between the hanger body and thehook portion, said marker mounting means including: a web formed betweenthe hanger body and the hook portion, said web having a sloping upperedge that extends between the hanger body and the hook portion, aprojecting flange disposed along the sloping edge of said web, and whichtransversely projects out over said web at a right angle thereto, sothat a cross-section of said web and said protecting flange forms aT-shape, a central region of the sloping edge of said web being free ofthe protecting flange to define a notch, and a pair of stops, the stopsbeing formed on each of two opposite sides of the web and in alignmentwith the notch; and a size marker mounted on the web in a direction fromthe projecting flange in a self-locking manner, including a pair ofsubstantially parallel spaced apart side walls, a top wall that isconfigured to rest upon the Projecting flange and which connects thepair of side walls to define a channel for receiving the web, and a pairof opposite flanges which are structured on the side walls and arrangedto engage the stops on the web to secure the size marker to the garmenthanger.
 2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web issubstantially triangle shaped and the projecting flange is positionedalong the hypotenuse of the web.
 3. A combination as claimed in claim 1,wherein the notch is of a length such that the size marker is laterallyadvanced to the marker mounting means via the notch.
 4. A combination asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the stop has a sloping surface forfacilitating advancement of the size marker to the marker mountingmeans.
 5. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange ofsaid size marker flexes inwardly and upwardly from a free end of theside wall to catch the stop on the web thereby locking the size markerin place on the marker mounting means.
 6. A combination as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the size marker is substantially triangular in profileshape.
 7. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the markermounting means is shaped to substantially completely be received in thechannel defined by the side walls and the top wall of the size markerwith the upper portion of the projecting flange abutting against aninner face of the top wall of the size maker.
 8. A combination asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the garment hanger is of a type having aplastic post integral with the hanger body and a hook made of metal andreceived in the post.